Review

New with The Dark Below, ATS/8 ARACHNID‘s key ability will enhance the zoom of your Golden Gun, allowing you to get more precision shots. For those that don’t know, the Golden Gun does more damage with precision shots.

This helm will allow you to aim down sights a little better, and which may help you get more damage out of your Super.

In theory this sounds like a decent ability, but in reality it’s just underwhelming. The Golden Gun is already accurate when aiming down sights, and the enhanced zoom from the ATS/8 ARACHNID cuts down your field of view further, and isn’t really necessary or useful in most situations.

The other perks on the helm work very well, revolving around your grenades, allowing you to use your Super and melee ability more often.

Having your throwing knife and Super available more often is great, but it’s going to be more apparent in PvE, since damaging/killing non-players with grenades will be much easier. You will get Discipline and Strength from using ATS/8 ARACHNID, so those really go in line with those two perks as well.

Unfortunately the enhanced zoom very lackluster and provides no real benefit. Only use this if you’re going to accurately use your grenades liberally, or actually think the zoom is helpful.

Because this helm increases the Golden Gun zoom, don’t use the Over the Horizon and Deadeye talents.

Whereas the zoom may be beneficial in a select few circumstances, an extra shot will allow you to easily take down at least 1 more enemy, which of course is great in PvP if you miss one of your first three.

In PvE, though you probably won’t miss, you’ll still have another shot to use as you wish.

The helm will increase your Discipline as well, decreasing grenade cooldown time, which meshes well with the two other perks. This will help you get grenade kills further away, and if you’re able to kill enemies with your grenades, you can use your Super a little quicker.

Increasing you grenade throw distance is a great help, as it will better your chances of getting grenade kills, which will boost you Super energy charge rate, which then brings you back for more Golden Gun action.

This is easily one of the best Exotic helmets for a Gunslinger in both PvP and PvE. If you’re a Gunslinger without Exotic armor, definitely grab the Achlyophage Symbiote.

Review

This is a helm that every Bladedancer should own. Mask of the Third Man‘s unique ability is reduces the amount of Super energy used when attacking with Arc Blade. Couple this helm with the Encore talent for even more time with the Arc Blade.

If there are encounters that have swarms of enemies, like the first phase of Templar or the lamps in Crota’s End, you can easily double or triple the amount of time you’re able to use Arc Blade.

In PvP, Mask of the Third Man will allow for a bit more of an extension as well, since every kill won’t be using up as much energy.

Mask of the Third Man, being the only Exotic helm that’s specific to the Bladedancer, is a great choice if you enjoy that subclass. You’re going to always make use out of the Switchblade perk since you’ll undoubtedly be using your melee a lot.

Review

Each of the Knucklehead Radar‘s perks are great in their own way, though it may serve you best in PvE. This is the only subclass subclass-neutral Hunter Exotic helm other than ExoTac Angel Hunter, coming with HoW.

It’s going to provide you a lot of Strength, which works well with the Light the Blade perk, allowing you to use your melee ability even more.

This helm is amazing for those who like to switch their weapon loadouts around. Sensor Pack is useful in PvP: you’re able to see your radar while looking down the sights of primary weapons (MIDA Multi-tool and Patience and Time have a similar perk).

Being able to see your radar while ADS lends itself well to all playstyles, and all formats of the Crucible.

The downside to Knucklehead Radar is that Inverse Shadow does not work outside of PvE, which means it’s a useless perk in PvP. Furthermore, Sensor Pack will rarely be necessary in PvE, making it basically useless in PvE.

In PvP you’re left with the increased awareness from your radar and a melee cooldown from grenade damage. For newer players this is a wonderful helm to use until you have better map knowledge and awareness.

In PvE Knucklehead Radar is stronger, because you’ll always be able to damage enemies with your grenades easily, and you’ll also be able to increase your Super energy really easily just by killing enemies.

This helm can become a crutch too if you rely on it, and after changing to something else, you may have to rethink your playstyle.

Knucklehead Radar isn’t worth passing on completely, but ask yourself: Do you really think Sensor Pack will benefit you in PvE? Is losing Inverse Shadow in PvP worth it?